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KHPT marks International Day of the Girl Child 2013 with the Sabala project

KHPT marks International Day of the Girl Child 2013 with the Sabala project

10 November 2013

Alexandra Hyde and Priya Pillai

STRIVE partner KHPT recently celebrated International Day of the Girl Child with activities in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts in North Karnataka, India. The activities formed part of KHPT's implementation of the Samata project, which aims to reduce HIV risk among adolescent girls in Bijapur and Bagalkot Districts by increasing their rates of secondary school enrolment and completion.

The events were designed to create awareness and generate discussion on the socio-cultural and institutional barriers that limit educational access for girls. Sports were used as a medium to challenge the gender norms in a rural village setting, where mixed teams of boys and girls competed in cricket and relay.

Aravind Javalagi, a teacher at a local school, commented that such events are needed to encourage girls who have fewer opportunities:

Most girls in this village are from marginalised communities and need some strong hands to bring them up. Programmes such as these will build their leadership skills, encourage their active participation in the community and attract them to school.

KHPT's report of the day's events details the full range of activities organised to support the Samata project, highlights of which include:

mixed teams of boys and girls competed in cricket and athletics, thereby challenging gender norms in a village setting